AllFreeNovel
Share Us
However, Cadence lowered her voice and snickered, “Who needs a carnival? Baiting a simpleton in the stocks can’t be more fun than this.”
Mother hadn’t heard her. Cadence made sure of that.
But I’d heard. So had Poet.
His gaze sliced toward Cadence, unbridled wrath streaking across his pupils. If I had given him another second, he would have taken her down with a single flick of his tongue. I saw it, the way his eyes glinted with promise. He would say something to ridicule Cadence publicly, to put the chit in her place. He would do what he did best, what people loved and feared most about him. Everyone adored that skill, so long as it wasn’t directed toward them.
Except I’d had enough. And truly, I didn’t feel like giving him the chance.
Rage festered under my skin and climbed up my wrists. In a spasm of action, I whipped around, strode over to the female, and smacked her clear across the face. The crack of my palm against Cadence’s flesh resounded like something launched from a cannon. Her head twisted on impact, and she yelped while clutching her blazing cheek.
Beside her, the clan of six stared, aghast.
“Briar!” Mother hissed.
“That was not funny,” I gritted to Cadence through my teeth. “In case you were wondering, no one cares for your snide and petty remarks. They’re about as valuable as your simpering, and I’m tired of hearing both. If you cannot say anything without due respect, then do your work, act like the lady you’re supposed to be, and keep your bitchy mouth shut!”
Disregarding Mother’s calls, I marched past the company. The weight of Poet’s eyes pursued me as I stormed off.
My skirt snapped around my legs as I trekked down the hill. The second incline led to a private thoroughfare that bordered the lower town and ended at the citadel, where I stormed across the drawbridge and into the orchid garden.
While crossing the flora paths that provided a shortcut to my suite, I flexed my hand. My skin burned from the contact with Cadence’s hateful sneer. Yes, the jolt of satisfaction I felt went against my principles. It defied how a Royal should conduct herself, especially the daughter of Autumn, known far and wide as a female composed to a fault.
Being upset was hardly justification. By striking one of Spring’s ladies-in-waiting, I had disrespected Queen Fatima and dishonored my mother. I’d set a terrible example and would need to make amends before the court.
A smug grin wormed across my face.
A hand lashed out and yanked me into the nearest bush. I parted my lips to scream—until I noticed the silver hair, crinkled skin the texture of burlap, and frantic eyes.
“Jinny,” I gasped, staggering into her.
The trembling woman clasped my elbows. Urgency scrawled across her weathered face. “Briar. Thank Seasons, it’s you.”
“What is—how did you get here?”
“I can’t find Poet. I searched, but I’ve never been here before. I got lost and … oh, Seasons.”
“He’s helping set up for Lark’s Night. What’s happened?”
Jinny’s features withered, and her eyes glistened. “I should have guessed. I-I wasn’t thinking.”
No, she was not. She was panicking.
Belatedly, I discovered an agitated critter scuttling around my heels. Tumble had burst from the shrubbery and was galloping between me and Jinny, a string of low, staccato hisses reverberating from his body.
“It’s Nicu,” Jinny rushed out. “I think it was the ribbons. The ones at the carnival. He must have seen them, and—I-I don’t know.”
“Tell me what’s happened,” I pressed.
“I think it was the ribbons. I hurried, I tried, but I was too late. They got to him.”
“Jinny,” I demanded, prying her hands from her face. “Focus. Who got to him?”
“The guards. The Crown.” She swayed, then crumbled in my arms. “They have him. They took Nicu.”
30
Briar
